Local students participate in 73rd Annual Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair

Approximately 250 fifth- through 12th-grade students from 21 area schools recently participated in the 73rd Annual Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair held at the Arkansas Union.

The annual science fair is an opportunity for students, who are future scientists, technologists, mathematicians, and engineers, to explore STEM fields through research and problem/project-based learning, apply the knowledge gained from their research, and We are committed to improving STEM education by encouraging the transmission of information. .

More than 200 U of A faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students served as judges and volunteers for the fair, all coordinated by Sean Bell, director of the U of A’s Center for Mathematics and Science Education.

“The Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair is more than just a showcase of projects; it’s a platform that showcases our students’ dedication, hard work, and skills in developing their research skills,” said Sean Bell, director of the university’s Mathematics Center. . science education. “This fair allows students in our area to compete on a local, state, national, and even global level. Without the fair, students, especially from smaller school districts, would not have an opportunity like this. I wouldn’t have been able to do that.”

At the end of the day, fair winners were crowned in a ceremony attended by students, parents, and many teachers and judges. Winners in the senior category from area schools are Chandra Sudha, Xavier Herzig and Siddhartha Mirkul.

Winners in the senior division will advance to the State Science and Engineering Fair on March 30-31 at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. The overall senior winner and their teacher will receive a sponsored trip to the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles in May.

Among the many educators who accompanied students to the science fair were Noyce Fellows from the College of Education and Health Professions. Her MAT students in the Curriculum Leadership Department coached students throughout the fall semester to create authentic scientific investigations at an internship school in the Springdale School District.

The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program provides funding to higher education institutions to provide scholarships to recruit and prepare STEM majors and professionals to become K-12 teachers. For the past three years, the Ministry of Curriculum and Instruction has been home to his TEAAMS project, which has funded a total of 20 future math and science teachers.

These Noyce Fellows will be mentored by a team of faculty members, including Kim McComas, William F. McComas, Laura Kent, Stephen Bergin, and Shannon Dingman, who will provide support and advice to fellows participating in the program.

“Participating in a science fair is as close as you can get to being a scientist,” said William McComas, Parks Family Professor of Science Education. “Most science classes teach science facts and don’t follow any ‘rules.’ I also teach,” he said, welcoming all participants. Science creates new knowledge, and that’s a good thing, but this is like learning the rules of baseball or football, recognizing a few star players, but never being allowed to play in the game. And I started to really understand how science works. ”